Stove top heating containers

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a container of the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;double-boiler&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; type in which an edible product is packaged within an inner chamber and water is packaged within an outer chamber with the chambers initially not being in fluid communication. A lid and a portion of the inner chamber are pierced after the removal of an adhesive tape from the lid which is reapplied to cover the pierced opening of the lid. Upon application of heat to the container steam emitted from the water enters the interior chamber but is precluded from exiting to atmosphere by the reapplied adhesive tape which, however, will release to perform a valving function upon pressure build-up in the product and/or liquid chamber.

United States Patent.

Doyle et a].

[151 3,659,584 1 May.2, 1972 [54] STOVE TOP HEATING CONTAINERS [72] Inventors: Diane J. Doyle, Western Springs; Harry A.

[21] Appl. No.: 10,340

Huntting .220/24 1,003,112 9/l9ll Johnson ..l26/377 3,069,043 12/1962 Bishop.... ..220/l 3 506,219 I 10/1893 Fisher ..l26/369 Primary Examiner-Charles Sukalo Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Dua Attorney-Diner, Brown, Ramik & Holt [57] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a container of the double-boiler" type in which an edible product is packaged within an inner chamber and water is packaged within an outer chamber with the chambers initially not being in fluid communication. A lid and a portion of the inner chamber are pierced after the removal of an adhesive tape from the lid which is reapplied to cover the pierced opening of the lid. Upon application of heat to the container steam emitted from the water enters the in terior chamber but is precluded from exiting to atmosphere by the reapplied adhesive tape which, however, will release to perform a valving function upon pressure build-up in the product and/or liquid chamber.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 I NV E NTOR S DE M0 D T T STOVE TOP HEATING CONTAINERS A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel food processing container which functions on the well known double-boiler principle and includes inner and outer nested container bodies each of which is defined by bottom and upstanding peripheral side walls in spaced relationship thereby defining a first chamber adapted to receive water or similar heattransfer liquid, the inner container further including a radially outwardly directed imperforate peripheral flange closing the first chamber, a lid overlying the inner container body including the peripheral flange thereof thereby defining with the inner container body a second chamber adapted to receive an edible product, and means secured to the lid at an area overlying the peripheral flange which is at least partially removable from the lid whereby the lid and the peripheral flange may be punctured to provide a flow path to the second chamber for steam emitted from the water upon the application of heat thereto.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel container of the type aforesaid wherein the means secured to the lid is a flap valve which is reapplied to close the pierced opening in the lid to prevent gases from escaping to atmosphere but is also releasable to permit steam to escape to atmosphere upon the build-up of pressure in the product compartment.

A heating object of this invention is to provide a novel heating container of the type heretofore defined wherein a space is provided between the peripheral flange and an undersurface of the lid thereabove whereby upon the formation of the pierced openings a flow path is established from the water chamber to the product chamber through the space for gases emitted from the heated water.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel heating container of the type described heretofore wherein means are provided for forming an opening in the lid upon the partial removal of the flap valve, the opening forming means including a weakened area of the lid which is secured to the flap valve and is thus ruptured and removed upon the initial removal of the flap valve from the lid.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a novel heating container constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a flap valve adhesively secured to a lid of the container in overlying relationship to a radially outwardly directed flange of an inner product-containing compartment.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 22 of FIG. 1, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which the flap valve overlies the peripheral flange with water and an edible product being respectively packaged in the outer and inner chambers or compartments.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2, and illustrates the manner in which the flap valve is at least partially removed to permit the lid and peripheral flange to be pierced by a suitable instrument.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the flap valve being reapplied to close the pierced opening of the lid, and the manner in which steam emitted from the water is directed into the product chamber.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the heating container in the area of the flap valve, and illustrates the manner in which the flap valve releases under the influence of pressure build-up in the product and/or liquid chambers.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of another container, and illustrates the manner in which a removable piece of tape is applied to close a pair of openings in the lid and an inner container body flange.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of another container and illustrates the manner in which a removable piece of tape is applied to close a lid opening and an underlying scored portion of the inner container body flange.

A novel stove top heating container of the double-boiler type is illustrated in the drawing, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The container 10 includes an inner container body 11 and an outer container body 12 in generally nested relationship. The inner container body 11 is defined by a bottom wall 13, an upstanding peripheral side wall 14, a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange l5, and a upwardly inwardly and downwardly directed curl 16. The inner container body 11 and an associated closing means in the form of a lid 17 define a product chamber or compartment 18 in which is packaged an edible product P.

The outer container body 12 is likewise defined by a bottom wall 20 in spaced relationship to the bottom wall 13 of the inner container body 11 and an upstanding peripheral side wall 21 in similar spaced relationship to the peripheral side wall 14 of the inner container body 11 thereby defining a chamber 22 in which is packaged water W or similar heattransfer liquid. The peripheral side wall 21 of the outer container body 12 terminates in a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange 23 which includes an upwardly inwardly and downwardly directed curl 24 which since crimped upon the curl 16 of the inner container body 11 maintains the container bodies 11, 12 in assembled relationship.

An annular band of sealing compound 25 is applied to an upper surface (unnumbered) of the peripheral flange 15 adjacent the curls 16, 24. The sealing compound 25 is, of course, applied to the flange 15 prior to the application of the lid 17 thereto.

The lid 17 includes an end panel 26 and a generally circular edge 27, the latter of which is interrupted by a tab 28 overlying the curl 24 and including a finger-gripping portion 29. Means 30 in the form of a piece of pressure tape having adhesive A on its 'undersurface is secured to the lid 17 at a position generally between the sealing compound 25 and the inner upstanding wall 14 of the inner container body 11, and above a space 31 (FIG. 2) between the peripheral flange 15 and the immediate overlying portion of the lid 17. The tape 30 functions as a releasable flap valve in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. The tape 30 is of a generally skullshaped configuration and includes a circular portion 33 (FIG. 1) overlying the space 31 and a finger-gripping portion 34 projecting radially inwardly, it being noted from FIG. 2 that the portion 34 is not adhesively secured to the lid 17. If desired, though necessary in keeping with the present invention, the lid 17 may be provided with a circular weakening line 35 defining a circular portion 36 underlying and adhesively secured to the portion 33 of the flap valve 30.

The operation of the heating container 10 will be first described assuming that the lid 17 is not provided with the circular line of weakness 35 which is the preferred embodiment of the invention. Assuming that it is desired to heat the product P, the finger-grip portion 34 of the flap valve 30 is grasped and removed by an upward and radial outward pulling action until the flap valve 30 reaches the position shown in FIG. 3 or, alternatively, the flap valve 30 can be entirely removed from the lid 17. A pointed instrument I is then used to puncture the lid 17 and the flange 15 of the inner container body 11 to form pierced apertures or openings 01, 02, (FIG. 3) in the lid and flange 17, 15, respectively. Thereafter the instrumentI is withdrawn and the flap valve 30 is reapplied, as is illustrated in FIG. 4, to overlie both openings 01, 02 with the opening 01 being hermetically sealed. It is also to be noted from FIG. 4 that the opening 02 now provides a flow path for gases emitted from the liquid L into the product chamber 18 through the space 31.

After being reclosed to the condition shown in FIG. 4, the heating container 10 is positioned atop a heating element E of a stove top S. As steam is emitted from the eventually boiling water W, the steam flows upwardly between the side walls 14, 21 in the manner indicated by the unnumbered headed arrows in FIG. 4, passes through the pierced opening 02, and enters the product chamber 18 through the space 31 to thereby heat the product P by convention. The product P is, of course, also heated by conduction through the walls 13, 14.

During the heating of the container 10 pressure may build up interiorly of the compartment 18 and/or the compartment 22, and should this occur the pressure acting against the under side of the portion 33 of the flap valve 30 causes the flap valve 30 to release, as shown in FIG. 5, and undesired high pressure gases are emitted to atmosphere through the opening 01. The flap valve 30 thereby releases in dependence upon the strength of the adhesive bond between the flap valve 30 and the lid 17, the size of the aperture 01 which varies the effective area of the flap valve acted upon by the pressure, and the particular pressure itself internally of the compartments 18, 22. Since the size of the opening 01 bears directly upon the release of the flap valve 30, the size thereof can be regulated by providing the circular weakening line 35 such that upon the removal of the flap valve 30 the portion 36 will be removed and the opening formed thereby will at all times be of a desired size. In this embodiment of the invention the portion 36 may be removed and discarded prior to reapplying the flap valve 30 or alternatively the portion 36 may be simply reinserted into the opening and the flap valve 30 will function in the same manner as heretofore described relative to FIG. in performing its venting function.

After the product P has been heated, the gripping portion 29 is grasped, lifted and pulled to remove the lid 17 (not shown) thereby exposing the chamber 18 and rendering the product P accessible for serving.

Though the particular materials from which the heating container are constructed have not been specifically set forth heretofore, the outer container body 12 is preferably constructed from aluminum foil or an aluminum-paper or aluminum-plastic laminate, as is the container body 11. The lid may similarly be constructed of such material, and in general the only criteria is that the materials of these components are relatively impermeable to liquids and gases yet can be readily punctured in the manner heretofore described.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6 of the drawing which illustrates another container 40 which is identical to the container except for the manner in which a piece of pressure sensitive tape 41, corresponding to the valve flap 30 of the container 10, is applied to close a pair of preformed openings 42, 43 in a respective lid 44 and a flange 45 of an inner container body 46. The tape 41 includes a depending cylindrical boss 47 having an exterior diameter corresponding generally to the aperture 42 to form a hermetic seal therewith, while a lowermost face 48 of the boss 47 rests atop the periphery (unnumbered) defining the aperture 43. In this manner a hermetic seal is maintained until such time as it is desired to warm the contents (not shown) of the container 40 at which time an end portion 49 of the tape 41 is grasped and pulled counterclockwise in the same manner as that heretofore described relative to the flap valve 30. The tape 41 may, of course, be partially re-applied in much the same manner as the tape 30 of FIG. 5 to efiect a valving action.

Another container 50 is illustrated in FIG. 7, and is identical to the container 40 of FIG. 6 except for the configuration of a piece of tape 51 sealing an opening 52 in a lid 53 and a pair of depending bosses 54, 55, the latter of which is received within a cylindrical cup-like portion 56 of an inner container body flange 57. The cup-like portion 56 includes a bottom panel 57 provided with a circular score line (not shown) in alignment with the inner cylindrical surface (unnumbered) of the cuplike portion 56. The bottom face (unnumbered) of the boss 55 is adhesively secured to the panel 57 defined by the circular score therein, and upon the removal of the tape 51 by a counterclockwise motion the scored portion of the panel 57 is removed to form an opening therein, as well as to open the opening 52. The tape 51 can, of course, be partially re-applied after the score portion of the panel 57 has been removed to provide a valving function just as the tapes 30, 41.

It is to be particularly noted that in each of the containers disclosed herein, as opposed to known conventional double boiler designs, a hermetic seal is achieved which precludes the introduction of atmosphere and/or contaminants into, for example, the chambers 22, 18 and particularly the latter in which the product P is stored. By thus precluding the introduction of atmosphere until the removal of the various flap valves, shelf stability is achieved and, depending upon the particular materials from which the containers are constructed, can be augmented where necessary by applying further sealin g compound. For example, though no sealing compound is illustrated between the flanges 15, 23, it is assumed that these surfaces form a hermetic seal but in keeping with this invention, sealing compound may be disposed therebetween.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

We claim:

1. A stove top heating container comprising inner and outer nested container bodies, each of said container bodies being defined by a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral side wall in spaced relationship thereby defining a first chamber adapted to receive a heat-transfer liquid, said inner container body further including a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange closing said first chamber, closure means overlying said inner container body including the peripheral flange thereof thereby defining with said inner container body a second chamber adapted to receive a heat-receivable product, said peripheral flange being imperforate, means secured to said closure means at an area overlying said peripheral flange, and said last-mentioned means being at least partially removable from said closure means whereby said closure means and said peripheral flange can be punctured.

2. A stove top heating container comprising inner and outer nested container bodies, each of said container bodies being defined by a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral side wall in spaced relationship thereby defining a first chamber adapted to receive a heat-transfer liquid, said inner container body further including an integral continuous radially outwardly directed peripheral flange closing said first chamber, closure means overlying said inner container body including the peripheral flange thereof thereby defining with said inner container body a second chamber adapted to receive a heatreceivable product, said peripheral flange being imperforate, and a space being provided between said peripheral flange and an undersurface of a portion of the closure means thereabove whereby upon the formation of an aperture in said peripheral flange a flow path is established from the first chamber to the second chamber for gases emitted from the heabtransfer liquid upon the application of heat thereto.

3. The heating container as defined in claim 1 wherein said means overlying said peripheral flange is a flap valve.

4. A stove top heating container comprising inner and outer nested container bodies, each of said container bodies being defined by a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral side wall in spaced relationship thereby defining a first chamber adapted to receive a heat-transfer liquid, said inner container body further including a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange closing said first chamber, closure means overlying said inner container body including the peripheral flange thereof thereby defining with said inner container body a second chamber adapted to receive a heat-receivable product, said peripheral flange being imperforate, means secured to said closure means at an area overlying said peripheral flange, and said last-mentioned means being at least partially removable from said closure means whereby said closure means and said peripheral flange can be punctured, means for forming an opening in said closure means upon the partial removal of said means overlying said peripheral flange.

5. The heating container as defined in claim 4 wherein said opening forming means includes a weakened area of said closure means secured to said means overlying said peripheral flange.

6. The heating container as defined in claim 4 wherein said means overlying said peripheral flange is a flap valve.

7. The heating container as defined in claim 5 wherein said means overlying said peripheral flange is a flap valve.

8. A stove top heating container comprising inner and outer nested container bodies, each of said container bodies being defined by a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral side wall in spaced relationship thereby defining a first chamber adapted to receive a heat-transfer liquid, said inner container body further including a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange closing said first chamber, closure means overlying said inner container body including the peripheral flange thereof thereby defining with said inner container body a second chamber adapted to receive a heat-receivable product, said peripheral flange being imperforate, means secured to said closure means at an area overlying said peripheral flange, and said last-mentioned means being at least partially removable from said closure means whereby said closure means and said peripheral flange can be punctured, a space is provided between said peripheral flange and an undersurface of a portion of the closure means thereabove whereby upon the presence of an aperture in said peripheral flange a flow path is established from the first chamber to the second chamber for gases emitted from the heat'transfer liquid upon the application of heat thereto.

9. The heating container as defined in claim 8 wherein said peripheral flange is imperforate.

10. The heating container as defined in claim 8 including means for forming an opening in said closure means upon the partial removal of said means overlying said peripheral flange.

11. The heating container as defined in claim 3 including means secured to said closure means at an area overlying said peripheral flange, and said last-mentioned means being at least partially removable from said closure means whereby said closure means and said peripheral flange can be punctured to provide a flow path to the second chamber for gases emitted from the heat-transfer liquid upon the application of heat thereto.

12. The heating container as defined in claim 11 wherein said means overlying said peripheral flange is a flap valve.

13. The heating container as defined in claim 11 including means for fon-ning an opening in said closure means upon the partial removal of said means overlying said peripheral flange. 

1. A stove top heating container comprising inner and outer nested container bodies, each of said container bodies being defined by a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral side wall in spaced relationship thereby defining a first chamber adapted to receive a heat-transfer liquid, said inner container body further including a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange closing said first chamber, closure means overlying said inner container body including the peripheral flange thereof thereby defining with said inner container body a second chamber adapted to receive a heat-receivable product, said peripheral flange being imperforate, means secured to said closure meAns at an area overlying said peripheral flange, and said last-mentioned means being at least partially removable from said closure means whereby said closure means and said peripheral flange can be punctured.
 2. A stove top heating container comprising inner and outer nested container bodies, each of said container bodies being defined by a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral side wall in spaced relationship thereby defining a first chamber adapted to receive a heat-transfer liquid, said inner container body further including an integral continuous radially outwardly directed peripheral flange closing said first chamber, closure means overlying said inner container body including the peripheral flange thereof thereby defining with said inner container body a second chamber adapted to receive a heat-receivable product, said peripheral flange being imperforate, and a space being provided between said peripheral flange and an undersurface of a portion of the closure means thereabove whereby upon the formation of an aperture in said peripheral flange a flow path is established from the first chamber to the second chamber for gases emitted from the heat-transfer liquid upon the application of heat thereto.
 3. The heating container as defined in claim 1 wherein said means overlying said peripheral flange is a flap valve.
 4. A stove top heating container comprising inner and outer nested container bodies, each of said container bodies being defined by a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral side wall in spaced relationship thereby defining a first chamber adapted to receive a heat-transfer liquid, said inner container body further including a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange closing said first chamber, closure means overlying said inner container body including the peripheral flange thereof thereby defining with said inner container body a second chamber adapted to receive a heat-receivable product, said peripheral flange being imperforate, means secured to said closure means at an area overlying said peripheral flange, and said last-mentioned means being at least partially removable from said closure means whereby said closure means and said peripheral flange can be punctured, means for forming an opening in said closure means upon the partial removal of said means overlying said peripheral flange.
 5. The heating container as defined in claim 4 wherein said opening forming means includes a weakened area of said closure means secured to said means overlying said peripheral flange.
 6. The heating container as defined in claim 4 wherein said means overlying said peripheral flange is a flap valve.
 7. The heating container as defined in claim 5 wherein said means overlying said peripheral flange is a flap valve.
 8. A stove top heating container comprising inner and outer nested container bodies, each of said container bodies being defined by a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral side wall in spaced relationship thereby defining a first chamber adapted to receive a heat-transfer liquid, said inner container body further including a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange closing said first chamber, closure means overlying said inner container body including the peripheral flange thereof thereby defining with said inner container body a second chamber adapted to receive a heat-receivable product, said peripheral flange being imperforate, means secured to said closure means at an area overlying said peripheral flange, and said last-mentioned means being at least partially removable from said closure means whereby said closure means and said peripheral flange can be punctured, a space is provided between said peripheral flange and an undersurface of a portion of the closure means thereabove whereby upon the presence of an aperture in said peripheral flange a flow path is established from the first chamber to the second chamber for gases emitted from the heat-transfer liquid upon the application of heat thereto.
 9. The heating Container as defined in claim 8 wherein said peripheral flange is imperforate.
 10. The heating container as defined in claim 8 including means for forming an opening in said closure means upon the partial removal of said means overlying said peripheral flange.
 11. The heating container as defined in claim 3 including means secured to said closure means at an area overlying said peripheral flange, and said last-mentioned means being at least partially removable from said closure means whereby said closure means and said peripheral flange can be punctured to provide a flow path to the second chamber for gases emitted from the heat-transfer liquid upon the application of heat thereto.
 12. The heating container as defined in claim 11 wherein said means overlying said peripheral flange is a flap valve.
 13. The heating container as defined in claim 11 including means for forming an opening in said closure means upon the partial removal of said means overlying said peripheral flange. 